Already this year, two have died at shows in the United States.
To help ensure there are no additions to the statistics at any Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshows, an expert in the field of airshow safety is sharing his knowledge at a seminar at Wanaka's Edgewater Resort this evening.
Major-general Des Barker, a former South African fighter pilot, told the Otago Daily Times yesterday New Zealand had a ''very, very good'' safety record.
However, it was important for airshow organisers to review the ''threats and challenges'' to pilots, event organisers and safety officers by ''just revisiting the marriage vows'', he said.
The seminars he was giving in New Zealand were similar to those he gave in the United States, Britain and South Africa and covered the basics of display flying and event organising.
''In 105 years [of flying], we continue to repeat the same things.
''Sometimes we just need to be reminded, learn from the lessons,'' he said.
Most crashes were the result of ''judgement errors'', he said, and it was important for pilots to make sure their judgement was as ''well honed'' as it could get it.
''Flying isn't dangerous. It's the crashing that's dangerous.''
The seminar will cover topics such as ''understanding how highly trained and prepared professionals can still make mistakes'' and ''the dynamics of energy loss in tumble manoeuvres''.
Maj-gen Barker's visit to Wanaka is jointly funded by the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust and the Civil Aviation Authority.
The one fatality at the Wanaka airshow was in April 1994, when Auckland pilot Ian Cameron Reynolds' De Havilland Chipmunk hit the ground in front of the main grandstand.
About 40 people are expected at the seminar, which is open to the public.
